Good morning! It is Day 3!
What's up?
We are already preparing to leave the hotel. It is around 7:30 in the morning and we will be checking out within half an hour and embark on the last leg of our journey.
I took one last stroll around the vertical garden, the room and my favorite spots. I was leaving with a heavy heart, I knew. This was our last day at this beautiful place and today will write my final memories in this place.
And?
We boarded the cab to spend our day seeing the last few attractions saved for the last of our trip. Our first spot was quite far away - about 35 kilometres away from our hotel. We were headed towards Poombarai, a beautiful hamlet in the outskirts of Kodaikanal. This wasn't just a spot - it was once home to the notorious Seevalaperi Pandi, a Tirunelveli goon who once was the king of headlines in the 1980s.
This hamlet had a lot in store for us - beautiful carrot and garlic plantations dotting the borders of the hills. The villages, from high up, looked beautiful to watch. Though covered in mist, the soft sunshine gently peeked out of the clouds and illuminated this region alone, making it look much more elegant and heartwarming. Once could spot the carrot and garlic farms from the other as the garlic farms were barren as we later learn that the garlic was harvested just days ago while the carrots were being harvested. Carrot stalls were just a stone's throw away and one could find literally thousands of these across a small stretch.
However, the ones that appealed the most was the garlic, locals and tourists alike. We happened to come across one such stall outside a temple. The Kuzhanthai Velappar temple was perched high and one that offered a spectacular, breathtaking view from the top. Once we were done with worshipping, we spent some time chatting and enjoying the view. Unfortunately, I couldn't click any photos there.
It was time to leave. Just as we stepped out of the temple, we stumbled over some garlic, rolling down the path. The aroma of freshly harvested garlic tempted us and dragged us towards the stall.
So, what happened?
We were just onlookers, waiting to buy some garlic to take back home. This native variety of garlic, known regionally as 'malai poondu' or 'garlic of the hills', is celebrated worldwide for its magical medicinal properties and its Ayurvedic importance. A clove of this 'malai poondu' is considered a bite of immense medicinal powers.
We were just watching, when one of the vendors approached us. He explained the medicinal properties and emphasized the authenticity of their garlic. When he noticed the hesitant looks on our faces, he unraveled his next tactic. He instantly grabbed some garlic, broke a clove into two and asked us to take a bite. Take a bite, I thought again. My childhood memories warned me against chewing it. I mean, who would bite raw garlic just because a man asked me to?
Yet, my adventurous self decided to go for it, despite alarms and sirens in my head.
One bite and I was dead.
The moment my tongue came in contact with the raw garlicky juices, the heat and spice shot right up my throat and soon after, I was yelping for some ice.
Several gasps later....
After almost screaming out loud, he laughed and asked us to stretch our hands out. Sensing our puzzled faces, he pulled a bottle of honey from his bag and poured a little on our palms. The funny part is, we wolfed it down like hungry foxes to soothe the fire in our mouths. The spicy garlic and the honey together made a very weird combination in my mouth and the burp which followed was way more weird.
Then?
Next, we were headed towards Mannavanur, another sleepy hamlet near Poombarai. One of the beautiful places nearby, Mannavanur was a favourite shooting spot for celebrated film directors like Mani Ratnam, whose films have won several awards. The pristine view and the clear waters often is enough to enchant every tourist here. Simply beautiful.
Here, we head towards the Rabbit Shed. Now, this is a bittersweet memory. You'll know as you read on.
Rabbit Racism!
We were led into this dark, smelly shed with lots of rabbits (yeah, lots) which reeked of the smell of old rabbit excreta and dirty hair. The stench was more than enough to send my head spinning and curdle the contents of my stomach. Still, I gathered enough courage to resist the stench and marched on to watch these poorly bred rabbits. When humans ourselves cannot stay there for a while, how do these rabbits survive? This is insensitive cruelty against animals. Poor souls.
I wouldn't say these rabbits were healthy looking. Nor were they lean and bony. In fact, they were the fattest, plumpiest rabbits I had ever seen!
As I step outside the shed, I am in for another surprise. I find five rabbits of different fur and colour, all lined up in a row. One could pet a rabbit for ten minutes for ten rupees per turn and the choice of rabbit was yours. There were white, grey and a black one. The two whites were of heavy demand and the black one was being cuddled by a couple for over half an hour. Only the grey ones were left. The money-collector asked me which colour I would prefer. Now, within a few milliseconds, my mind staged a play in front of my eyes. Now, what if, I was the rabbit and all those rabbits were human instead? What would it look like if a rabbit picked between black, white-skinned and Asian pet humans instead?
Hence, I shake myself out of the bizarre story I just created and picked a grey one instead of a white one. When human racism isn't tolerated, why rabbit racism?
Moments later, I find a grey rabbit on my lap. This horrible rabbit, however, showed off its shiny claws to me and stared right in my eyes, which shook the soul out of me. I thought of my bizarre tale again, maybe it is true?
Okay, next?
I had had enough of this. We handed the money and all I could think of was run far, far away from those nasty, racist rabbits. The next sight was nothing like I had ever seen before.
The pristine waters, engulfed in a sea of lively green, sleeping under a curtain of clear blue with fluffy streaks of white. The misty breeze from the hills, gently blew and ruffled the elegant pines, dotting the hills. If there was something called paradise, it would definitely mean this extraordinary sight.
It took me quite a while to soak the serene beauty around me. This was all about the simple joys of life, being able to run down the hills like a toddler, listening to your voice echo in the hills, resting under the pine trees and breathing in the fresh air of the hills itself was a gift. I readily quenched my thirst like a parched animal locked in a cage, except that my cage and yours are made of concrete. No number of luxury air-conditioners could drench you in such a feeling and touch your heart. It was breathtaking and the most arresting scene my eyes have captured in these twelve years.
Tell me more...
After a hella lot of photography, I still had one more mission to complete. Since the start of my trip, I had been hunting for pine cones. I always wanted to have a real (let's underline that) pine cone, and the only way to do that was to hunt for one. Luckily, Mannavanur had loads of pine trees dotting the quaint hill and I am telling you this as I stand under a pine tree. The pine cones here are hanging from the higher branches, the ones I am too short for. Yet, here I am, on the verge of tumbling down a hill in my attempt to get an pine cone. When I turn back, I see my parents boarding the cab.
Noooooooooo!
Oops! This is my only chance to get an pine cone and I cannot afford to lose this golden chance. I hurriedly grabbed a couple of healthy looking pine cones and rushed in the fear that they would leave me behind (yes, they are ready to pounce on such an opportunity, whenever it comes). My fingers stroked the beautiful woody layers of the pine cones lovingly. It was beautiful.
Yes! I got my pine cone, finally!
Later, we drive towards the Pambar falls or the Golden Cascade, a thin stream of cool (nope, deathly cold) water. We hop out of the cab excitedly and remove our shoes. But then, the piercingly chill winter breeze strikes my cheek. Uh-oh.
Brrrrrr!
The freezing breeze made my heart skip a beat. My skin cracked and I broke out into goosebumps and my hair stood up, surprised and shocked. What about the water?
Hesitantly, I dipped my toes in the freezing water. Oops.
The biting cold water instantly froze my veins and curdled my blood! The temperature went shooting up my temples and created a tender throb. Still, I could adjust my own body temperature and quickly became comfortable in the water.
What's more...
After frolicking in the water for a while, we were heading towards a renowned chocolate store, known for its premium-quality cocoa and simple, pure process of creating their delicacies. Within minutes, we were at the store. In my opinion, the best part of visiting a chocolate factory is tasting their samples (yup, I know!)
Here, we got to try their almond blends, fruit blends and much more. The chocolate you get in the hills, is of a different kind. It is smooth, buttery and melts in your mouth with a peculiar sweetness. We left with bags loaded with chocolate of several kinds.
Aww, not so soon!
It was time for us to leave. Our very last day at this beautiful place had come to an abrupt end. The long morning treks, the misty hills, the gentle sunshine and my experiences in this wonderful paradise has now found a special place in my heart. Though I will be going back home (which I love equally), the chaos and cacophony of city life will never be able to drive the calmness in the hills out of my soul. I think this trip has been quite unusual for me. I usually don't prefer travel to the hills (some bad childhood experiences, like altitude sickness, greedy monkeys and rash drivers), but this was a complete game-changer. Some other hurdles like room heating facilities and improper food at times did line up, yet this did not dampen my experience.
This is probably a lesson nature teaches every city dweller - the confusion and chaos of the cities doesn't stand a chance with the serene feeling of the hills. Every man who treads on these beautiful hills must listen to the secret it tells you - no matter how much one is engulfed in cacophony, one must always preserve the essential inner silence in your heart and soul. Yes, I do have to return to the chaotic life of Chennai City, and I will always miss this silence. No matter how much we have with us, that nagging thirst in every one of us can be quenched only by the tranquility of the hills, with the power to replenish every parched soul. The burble of the streams, the calmness of the quaint hills, the gentle sunshine, the moist scent of wood and pine and the chill mist will be something that will always stay locked in my heart.
As often quoted, when man stays in the heart of the Mother too long, the beauty of the hills creep into his blood and soul as he falls helplessly, only to let the man die in the laps of his Mother in the end, enclosed in her palms.
I am and I always will.
What's up?
We are already preparing to leave the hotel. It is around 7:30 in the morning and we will be checking out within half an hour and embark on the last leg of our journey.
I took one last stroll around the vertical garden, the room and my favorite spots. I was leaving with a heavy heart, I knew. This was our last day at this beautiful place and today will write my final memories in this place.
And?
We boarded the cab to spend our day seeing the last few attractions saved for the last of our trip. Our first spot was quite far away - about 35 kilometres away from our hotel. We were headed towards Poombarai, a beautiful hamlet in the outskirts of Kodaikanal. This wasn't just a spot - it was once home to the notorious Seevalaperi Pandi, a Tirunelveli goon who once was the king of headlines in the 1980s.
This hamlet had a lot in store for us - beautiful carrot and garlic plantations dotting the borders of the hills. The villages, from high up, looked beautiful to watch. Though covered in mist, the soft sunshine gently peeked out of the clouds and illuminated this region alone, making it look much more elegant and heartwarming. Once could spot the carrot and garlic farms from the other as the garlic farms were barren as we later learn that the garlic was harvested just days ago while the carrots were being harvested. Carrot stalls were just a stone's throw away and one could find literally thousands of these across a small stretch.
However, the ones that appealed the most was the garlic, locals and tourists alike. We happened to come across one such stall outside a temple. The Kuzhanthai Velappar temple was perched high and one that offered a spectacular, breathtaking view from the top. Once we were done with worshipping, we spent some time chatting and enjoying the view. Unfortunately, I couldn't click any photos there.
It was time to leave. Just as we stepped out of the temple, we stumbled over some garlic, rolling down the path. The aroma of freshly harvested garlic tempted us and dragged us towards the stall.
So, what happened?
We were just onlookers, waiting to buy some garlic to take back home. This native variety of garlic, known regionally as 'malai poondu' or 'garlic of the hills', is celebrated worldwide for its magical medicinal properties and its Ayurvedic importance. A clove of this 'malai poondu' is considered a bite of immense medicinal powers.
We were just watching, when one of the vendors approached us. He explained the medicinal properties and emphasized the authenticity of their garlic. When he noticed the hesitant looks on our faces, he unraveled his next tactic. He instantly grabbed some garlic, broke a clove into two and asked us to take a bite. Take a bite, I thought again. My childhood memories warned me against chewing it. I mean, who would bite raw garlic just because a man asked me to?Yet, my adventurous self decided to go for it, despite alarms and sirens in my head.
One bite and I was dead.
The moment my tongue came in contact with the raw garlicky juices, the heat and spice shot right up my throat and soon after, I was yelping for some ice.
Several gasps later....
After almost screaming out loud, he laughed and asked us to stretch our hands out. Sensing our puzzled faces, he pulled a bottle of honey from his bag and poured a little on our palms. The funny part is, we wolfed it down like hungry foxes to soothe the fire in our mouths. The spicy garlic and the honey together made a very weird combination in my mouth and the burp which followed was way more weird.
Then?
Next, we were headed towards Mannavanur, another sleepy hamlet near Poombarai. One of the beautiful places nearby, Mannavanur was a favourite shooting spot for celebrated film directors like Mani Ratnam, whose films have won several awards. The pristine view and the clear waters often is enough to enchant every tourist here. Simply beautiful.
Here, we head towards the Rabbit Shed. Now, this is a bittersweet memory. You'll know as you read on.
Rabbit Racism!
We were led into this dark, smelly shed with lots of rabbits (yeah, lots) which reeked of the smell of old rabbit excreta and dirty hair. The stench was more than enough to send my head spinning and curdle the contents of my stomach. Still, I gathered enough courage to resist the stench and marched on to watch these poorly bred rabbits. When humans ourselves cannot stay there for a while, how do these rabbits survive? This is insensitive cruelty against animals. Poor souls.
I wouldn't say these rabbits were healthy looking. Nor were they lean and bony. In fact, they were the fattest, plumpiest rabbits I had ever seen!
As I step outside the shed, I am in for another surprise. I find five rabbits of different fur and colour, all lined up in a row. One could pet a rabbit for ten minutes for ten rupees per turn and the choice of rabbit was yours. There were white, grey and a black one. The two whites were of heavy demand and the black one was being cuddled by a couple for over half an hour. Only the grey ones were left. The money-collector asked me which colour I would prefer. Now, within a few milliseconds, my mind staged a play in front of my eyes. Now, what if, I was the rabbit and all those rabbits were human instead? What would it look like if a rabbit picked between black, white-skinned and Asian pet humans instead?
Hence, I shake myself out of the bizarre story I just created and picked a grey one instead of a white one. When human racism isn't tolerated, why rabbit racism?
Moments later, I find a grey rabbit on my lap. This horrible rabbit, however, showed off its shiny claws to me and stared right in my eyes, which shook the soul out of me. I thought of my bizarre tale again, maybe it is true?
Okay, next?
I had had enough of this. We handed the money and all I could think of was run far, far away from those nasty, racist rabbits. The next sight was nothing like I had ever seen before.
The pristine waters, engulfed in a sea of lively green, sleeping under a curtain of clear blue with fluffy streaks of white. The misty breeze from the hills, gently blew and ruffled the elegant pines, dotting the hills. If there was something called paradise, it would definitely mean this extraordinary sight.
It took me quite a while to soak the serene beauty around me. This was all about the simple joys of life, being able to run down the hills like a toddler, listening to your voice echo in the hills, resting under the pine trees and breathing in the fresh air of the hills itself was a gift. I readily quenched my thirst like a parched animal locked in a cage, except that my cage and yours are made of concrete. No number of luxury air-conditioners could drench you in such a feeling and touch your heart. It was breathtaking and the most arresting scene my eyes have captured in these twelve years.
Tell me more...
After a hella lot of photography, I still had one more mission to complete. Since the start of my trip, I had been hunting for pine cones. I always wanted to have a real (let's underline that) pine cone, and the only way to do that was to hunt for one. Luckily, Mannavanur had loads of pine trees dotting the quaint hill and I am telling you this as I stand under a pine tree. The pine cones here are hanging from the higher branches, the ones I am too short for. Yet, here I am, on the verge of tumbling down a hill in my attempt to get an pine cone. When I turn back, I see my parents boarding the cab.
Noooooooooo!
Oops! This is my only chance to get an pine cone and I cannot afford to lose this golden chance. I hurriedly grabbed a couple of healthy looking pine cones and rushed in the fear that they would leave me behind (yes, they are ready to pounce on such an opportunity, whenever it comes). My fingers stroked the beautiful woody layers of the pine cones lovingly. It was beautiful.
Yes! I got my pine cone, finally!
Later, we drive towards the Pambar falls or the Golden Cascade, a thin stream of cool (nope, deathly cold) water. We hop out of the cab excitedly and remove our shoes. But then, the piercingly chill winter breeze strikes my cheek. Uh-oh.
Brrrrrr!
The freezing breeze made my heart skip a beat. My skin cracked and I broke out into goosebumps and my hair stood up, surprised and shocked. What about the water?
Hesitantly, I dipped my toes in the freezing water. Oops.
The biting cold water instantly froze my veins and curdled my blood! The temperature went shooting up my temples and created a tender throb. Still, I could adjust my own body temperature and quickly became comfortable in the water.
What's more...
After frolicking in the water for a while, we were heading towards a renowned chocolate store, known for its premium-quality cocoa and simple, pure process of creating their delicacies. Within minutes, we were at the store. In my opinion, the best part of visiting a chocolate factory is tasting their samples (yup, I know!)
Here, we got to try their almond blends, fruit blends and much more. The chocolate you get in the hills, is of a different kind. It is smooth, buttery and melts in your mouth with a peculiar sweetness. We left with bags loaded with chocolate of several kinds.
Aww, not so soon!
It was time for us to leave. Our very last day at this beautiful place had come to an abrupt end. The long morning treks, the misty hills, the gentle sunshine and my experiences in this wonderful paradise has now found a special place in my heart. Though I will be going back home (which I love equally), the chaos and cacophony of city life will never be able to drive the calmness in the hills out of my soul. I think this trip has been quite unusual for me. I usually don't prefer travel to the hills (some bad childhood experiences, like altitude sickness, greedy monkeys and rash drivers), but this was a complete game-changer. Some other hurdles like room heating facilities and improper food at times did line up, yet this did not dampen my experience.
This is probably a lesson nature teaches every city dweller - the confusion and chaos of the cities doesn't stand a chance with the serene feeling of the hills. Every man who treads on these beautiful hills must listen to the secret it tells you - no matter how much one is engulfed in cacophony, one must always preserve the essential inner silence in your heart and soul. Yes, I do have to return to the chaotic life of Chennai City, and I will always miss this silence. No matter how much we have with us, that nagging thirst in every one of us can be quenched only by the tranquility of the hills, with the power to replenish every parched soul. The burble of the streams, the calmness of the quaint hills, the gentle sunshine, the moist scent of wood and pine and the chill mist will be something that will always stay locked in my heart.As often quoted, when man stays in the heart of the Mother too long, the beauty of the hills creep into his blood and soul as he falls helplessly, only to let the man die in the laps of his Mother in the end, enclosed in her palms.
I am and I always will.
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